Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant getting a game suspension for his offensive flopping is perfectly fine. Sitting down Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace a game for getting too many technical fouls is understandable. Sentencing Denver forward Carmelo Anthony to 15 games for his role in the Brawl II was even commendable.

But do you really want to take a stand against unbecoming conduct, vice president Stu Jackson? Do you really want to show the league is serious about its image, commissioner Stern? Then stick it to Ron Artest, who was recently arrested for domestic violence.

Of course, let the legal system play out first (because he’s innocent until proven guilty, right?). But he needs to get a lengthy suspension. (He returned to the Kings on Saturday after missing two games since Sacramento had excused him indefinitely.) Not because he’s a perennial bad boy who got in trouble again. But because he allegedly committed a crime that is far more repulsive than New York’s Nate Robinson inciting a fight; because he did something worse than get caught with potential performance enhancing substances in his system, which got Detroit guard Lindsay Hunter a 10-game suspension.

The NBA, over the last few years, has gone out of its way to change its image, from the dress code to the no-complaining edict. But while it thoroughly polices appearances, it has failed to stand firm on serious offenses.

How do you explain Sacramento head coach Eric Musselman and Charlotte assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff getting just two games apiece for being convicted of DWIs? Does it get too much more serious than drunk driving?

Per the NBA’s standard, it’s just above leaving the bench during a fight (which warrants a one-game suspension), but significantly less serious than testing positive for marijuana (which warrants a five-game suspension).

In January 2006, Chicago’s Antonio Davis was suspended five games for running into the stands to defend his wife. About a month later, Boston’s Sebastian Telfair was suspended two games for carrying a gun onto the team plane. That doesn’t add up.

NBA players are more afraid of criticizing officials than getting caught with weed, and the NBA shares some blame in that. The league can really practice what it preaches by taking a stand against universally rejected behavior such as violence against women.

CHEAP LABOR: Portland small forward Ime Udoka, who makes just $744,551 this season, has proven to be one of the league’s best bargains, along with Warriors guard Monta Ellis ($644,209) and Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard Smush Parker ($798,112).

Udoka, who was added to the roster a week before training camp to replace injured forward Darius Miles, is one of 20 players who have started all of his team’s games this season.

Udoka is fourth on the team in scoring (8.8) and is one of the Trail Blazers’ best shooters. He’s shooting 48 percent from the field, including a team-best 40.3 percent from behind the arc, and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line.

But his primary role is as Portland’s version of a defensive stopper as he always guards the opponents’ best perimeter player. Which matches him up against the Kobe Bryants and Carmelo Anthonys of the world.

“T-Mac, he got me the worst,” Udoka told the Portland Tribune, referring to the 28 points Tracy McGrady dropped on him Jan. 26.

Udoka isn’t a lock to be in Portland next season. He’s a free agent, but whether Portland re-signs him is up to the next team president and general manager, who has yet to be named.

“Will we continue with the direction we are currently going? What do we need?” Portland coach Nate McMillan told the Tribune. “Ime has done some really good things, but we have to evaluate everything, including guys who are free agents. Is Ime even here if Darius is playing? And Darius is back next year. Travis (Outlaw) is really a small forward, Martell (Webster) will have two years under his belt, and we’ll have a draft pick.”

ON BOARD: In its first 55 games, Philadelphia was in the bottom five of the league in rebound margin. But the Sixers have recently turned it around on the boards.

Center Samuel Dalembert is averaging 12.6 rebounds in his last 13 games, raising his rebounding average to 9.3. His fellow twin tower, Steven Hunter, has averaged 6.9 rebounds over the last eight games despite a dislocated left pinkie. Forward Joe Smith, an expiring contract acquired in the Allen Iverson trade, has averaged 6.0 rebounds with the Sixers. As a result, Philadelphia — once the worst team in the East, entered Saturday 41/2 games out of a playoff spot.

“I think our rebounding has been our main focus of things that we’re doing and our defense has gotten better,” coach Maurice Cheeks told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think with Sam and Steven inside, and when Joe comes in the game, they certainly give us a presence in the middle.”

BOUNCE PASSES: Players’ union head Billy Hunter visited New Orleans last week. He eased up on his comments about New Orleans not being fit to host the 2008 All-Star Game. “I think maybe my comments have kind of refocused attention on New Orleans,” Hunter told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Maybe (to) the rest of the country, things had kind of died down so people had kind of forgotten. So if we’re looking for something good, maybe as a result, we’ve refocused. People will understand there’s still work here to be done. Notwithstanding that, there’s been a great deal of progress that’s already been made.” … San Antonio’s Brent Barry needed 11 stitches to close a gash over his eye created by an inadvertent forearm from Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge on Tuesday. Barry needed 13 stitches after a blow to the head at Sacramento earlier this year. “I’m up to 24 stitches this season,” Barry joked to the Portland Tribune. “I knew I could lead the league in something.”

26. Nuggets Failed to score triple digits in three of the last four games

27. Hornets Four-game skid drops them to 10th in the West

28. Nets Richard Jefferson returns, they were 8-13 without him

29. Lakers Lost 10 of 13, Lamar Odom out two weeks

30. Pacers Averaged 85.3 points during seven-game skid

BALLED

Eddie Jones, Miami Heat SG

He has come up big in Miami’s last three games, averaging 19.7 points in 37.3 minutes. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter of a win over visiting Atlanta, then followed that by scoring 14 in the fourth quarter of a win over visiting Chicago. He capped the week with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Minnesota.

BOMBED

Danny Fortson, Seattle SuperSonics PF

After sitting on the bench for 24 games, Fortson was going to get his chance to contribute to Seattle’s playoff push. Coach Bob Hill was going to use him against big-bodied New York center Eddy Curry, so Fortson made the road trip. Instead of coming through for his teammates, Fortson was suspended for blowing off shootaround.